Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion, DISCREET YET STRIKING
Nestled between Saint-Emilion, Pomerol and Fronsac, Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion plays in the big league. Despite being the smallest appellation in the region, it produces superb red wines with their own flair which live up to the Right Bank’s reputation.
What is the Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion wine region?
Key points to remember
- Just 200 hectares of vines and 24 winegrowers who carefully tend them.
- Vine-covered hillsides facing the Saint-Emilion plateau, on the other side of the Barbanne stream. All in all, the grapes enjoy a dream location with consistent characteristics for perfect ripening (if you want to know more about this exceptional terroir, scroll down to the bottom of the page!).
- A deep-rooted taste for excellence, carefully perpetuated by meticulous winegrowers whose precision winemaking and aging are another secret of the PDO’s great wines.
Why do people love Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion and its wines?
- Because the small size of the PDO makes each bottle even more precious
- Because the quality of these cuvées is quite simply exceptional
- Because, when cellared, these wines age well and time does them justice
- Because they go deliciously with red meat and even game in the case of older vintages
- Because the winegrowers here are passionate and know how to get the very best from their terroir
- Because the rich history of the surrounding area is well worth exploring between two wine estate tours
What is the
Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion style ?
Powerful, elegant and characterful – here are red wines that know how to stand out.
Their dark crimson color, which turns brick red with age, immediately makes an impression.
Notes of blackcurrant and red fruit open the show, joined by more complex nuances over time. Simultaneously powerful, full-bodied and silky on the palate – a real pleasure.
For the best result, we recommend uncorking young vintages an hour before serving them. In contrast, older ones will benefit from decanting.
Thanks to their generous tannins, these wines improve in the cellar for decades, with some easily exceeding 40 years of aging.
See also: Grape varietiesWhich kind of wines can be found in Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion?
Only red wines!
At the helm of the blends, Merlot takes the lead (being the most widely grown grape variety in the appellation), with its legendary smoothness and roundness. Next come elegant Cabernet Franc (locally called Bouchet), powerful Cabernet Sauvignon and intense Malbec.
Fun facts
Three fun facts you need to know about Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion
Think you know all the secrets of Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion? Wait until you read this…
1.
History and terroir go hand in hand in this region. A truly exceptional site, Saint-Georges is home to the remains of a villa that is said to have belonged to Ausonius, the famous fourth-century Latin poet… who was also a winegrower!
2.
Upon entering the charming Saint-Georges church, you will come across naive sculptures and Carolingian elements from the 9th century. Another chance to dive back in time and relive the commune’s long history…
3.
The appellation’s emblem has nothing to do with wine, but rather with Saint George who slayed the dragon.
Let’s talk about the soil
When it comes to geology and climate, the terroir of Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion means business.
plus
The soils are almost exclusively clay-limestone, forming well-drained homogeneous slopes facing south-southwest which capture all the sun has to offer until it’s time to harvest. The result is perfectly ripe grapes that are wonderfully expressive in the wines.
Let’s travel back in time
Vines have been grown here with great success since Roman times (remember the ruins of the villa belonging to the poet Ausonius?).
En voir plus
Saint-Georges became a bustling religious town whose elegant, 11th-century Roman church, primitive in style, is still standing and testifies to the period. During the Age of Enlightenment, Saint-Georges became a barony, and Château Saint-Georges was transformed in 1773 under the watchful eye of architect Victor Louis, who made it a splendid example of the Louis XVI style.
The final stop in our time travel is 1936, the year that the Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion PDO was officially recognized. Since then, its story has continued to unfold with real gems proudly featuring among the great Bordeaux wines.
